Quick Facts
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Adrian "A. J." Majstrovich (born 9 February 1980) is a New Zealand-Australian professional basketball player for the Stirling Senators of the State Basketball League (SBL). He has previously played in the Australian NBL and the New Zealand NBL, as well as in Germany, Austria and Romania. He was named the New Zealand NBL Rookie of the Year and MVP in 2003 and 2004, respectively.
Early life
Born in Turangi, New Zealand to Croatian parents, Majstrovich was raised in Carnarvon on his grandparents' banana plantation. He later moved to Perth where he attended Morley Senior High School, before accepting a two-year basketball scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in 1997. In conjunction with the AIS, he attended Lake Ginninderra Secondary College where he graduated Year 12 in 1997. He also represented Australia at Under 20 level from 1996 to 1999, making him ineligible for the Tall Blacks.
While still in Year 11 at Morely in 1996, Majstrovich made his SBL debut for the East Perth Eagles.
Professional career
Early ANBL years (1998–2001)
In June 1998, Majstrovich signed a two-year deal with the Perth Wildcats. He made his NBL debut for the Wildcats in October 1998, and became an NBL champion in 2000 when the Wildcats defeated the Victoria Giants 2-0 in the three-game Grand Final series. During the 1999 NBL off-season, he played for the East Perth Eagles.
In October 2000, Majstrovich joined the Brisbane Bullets but managed just four games during the 2000–01 NBL season. He later joined the Launceston Tigers for the 2001 ABA season.
First overseas stint (2001–2003)
In August 2001, Majstrovich signed with TUS Jena of Germany for the 2001–02 season. In July 2002, he signed with UBC St.Pölten of Austria for the 2002–03 season.
Return to ANBL and first stint in NZNBL (2003–2008)
In March 2003, Majstrovich joined the Hawke's Bay Hawks of the New Zealand National Basketball League where he played from 2003 to 2006, winning the league's Rookie of the Year award in 2003 and the MVP award in 2004.
In July 2004, Majstrovich signed with the Perth Wildcats for the 2004–05 NBL season, returning to the club for a second stint.
In June 2005, Majstrovich signed with the New Zealand Breakers for the 2005–06 NBL season. On 20 November 2005, just 12 games into the season, he sustained a season-ending leg injury.
In May 2006, Majstrovich signed with the Adelaide 36ers for the 2006–07 NBL season. In January 2007, he signed with the Wellington Saints for the 2007 NZNBL season.
In December 2007, Majstrovich signed with the Auckland Stars for the 2008 NZNBL season.
Romania (2008)
In July 2008, Majstrovich signed with CS Universitatea Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca of Romania for the 2008–09 season. In December 2008, he left Cluj-Napoca after managing just three league games and two EuroChallenge games.
SBL (2009–2014)
In March 2009, Majstrovich signed with the Kalamunda Eastern Suns for the 2009 SBL season. In November 2009, he re-signed with the Suns for the 2010 season.
In January 2011, Majstrovich joined the Perth Redbacks where he played the 2011 and 2012 SBL seasons. In January 2013, he joined the Perry Lakes Hawks for the 2013 SBL season.
On 1 March 2014, Majstrovich signed with the Nelson Giants for the 2014 New Zealand NBL season. On 31 March 2014, Majstrovich was ruled out for the first month of action for the Giants due to a foot injury. He was later ruled out for the rest of the season on 8 May 2014 due to the same injury. However, on 6 June 2014, he signed with the Goldfields Giants for the rest of the 2014 State Basketball League season. He made his debut for Goldfields the next day, recording 23 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in a loss to the Joondalup Wolves. On 24 July 2014, he was named the SBL's Round 19 Player of the Week.
Return to NZNBL (2015)
On 10 December 2014, Majstrovich signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2015 New Zealand NBL season. He went on to help the Sharks win the 2015 championship.
Return to SBL (2016–present)
On 6 March 2016, Majstrovich signed with the Stirling Senators for the 2016 State Basketball League season.
Personal
Majstrovich is married to wife, Jaime. Since 2009, he has been studying and working as a civil draughtsman. He has also previously studied commerce and law.